NGC 309

NGC 309 is a barred spiral galaxy located in the constellation Cetus. It is estimated to be approximately 80 million light-years away from Earth. The galaxy was discovered on October 8, 1866, by Truman Henry Safford.

NGC 309 has a prominent central bar structure and well-defined spiral arms. Its morphological classification is SBc, indicating a barred spiral galaxy with loosely wound arms. The "c" designation implies that the arms are more open and less tightly wound than in galaxies classified as SBa or SBb.

The galaxy is relatively faint, with an apparent magnitude of approximately 12.3. It is considered a member of the NGC 315 group, a small group of galaxies located in the Cetus constellation. Studying galaxies like NGC 309 helps astronomers understand the formation and evolution of spiral galaxies, as well as the dynamics of galaxy groups.